Taiyo Pacific Partners announced today that it has accumulated in excess
of 5% in Funai Soken Holdings, Inc. (9757). Taiyo Pacific Partners is
known for its cooperative investment style working with senior
management to enhance shareholder value.

Brian K. Heywood, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Taiyo
Pacific Partners, said, "The continued existence of Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises ("SMEs") in Japan will depend on their ability
to compete and their access to sophisticated management skills. We
believe Funai Soken is the only company with the depth of experience and
breath of skills to address this SME need. President Takashima has
positioned his firm and his team as the leader of innovative solutions
for their clients. We expect to see strong growth and excellent
shareholder returns in the years ahead."

Michael A. King, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner of Taiy
Pacific Partners, said, "Funai Soken is able to generate steady profit
from its unique stock-type consulting service in the SME market. The
company is also well positioned to build additional business platforms
such as M&A consulting and direct recruiting services which can create
synergies with existing consulting services. We believe these new
platforms will grow to other pillars of the company and contribute to
further increase in shareholder value."

President Sakae Takashima commented, "With the group philosophy of 'We
help to build a better future for people, business and society,' Funai
Soken offers solutions to our SME clients and provides support to turn
the ideas into reality. Taiyo Pacific Partners has in-depth
understanding of our vision and strategy from a long-term perspective.
We are pleased to know that Taiyo selected our company and we look
forward to working with them as a long-term partner. We continue to
focus on increasing corporate value by becoming the management
consulting group that can provide solutions to anything related to
corporate management."

Taiyo Pacific Partners, located in Kirkland, Washington, was founded in
2003 by Asia-focused professionals dedicated to friendly shareholder
activism in Japan and other Asian countries. The firm currently manages
over $2.4 billion in Japan-focused funds. All strategies employ a
friendly activist approach.